The year 2026 is off to a great start for board game enthusiasts. A true label of quality awarded at the International Games Festival (FIJ) competition, the As d'Or rewards the best game of the year among new releases on the French market. Managed by the French Association for the Promotion of Board Games, this award is an essential reference for filling your game library or finding a gift in an online store.
When will the As d'Or 2026 take place?
The date is marked in all calendars: the award ceremony will take place on Thursday, February 26, 2026 at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes. This event will kick off the festival, which will run until March 1. The announcement of the nominated games already took place on January 28, 2026, revealing the 12 finalists who will compete for the supreme title.
Which games are nominated for the As d'Or 2026?
The official selection is divided into four distinct categories:
General Public Category (Game of the Year)
The title of best family board game is contested between:
- Flip 7 (published by Catch Up Games): A title that has taken over our social networks. It's a "push your luck" game where every card revealed raises the tension. Simple, addictive, and ideal for a quick game of 15 minutes.
- Rebirth (Lucky Duck Games): Signed by the master Reiner Knizia, this game proposes to rebuild a world with masterful tile-laying. A perfect balance between strategy and accessibility.
- Toy Battle (Repos Production / Asmodee): A visual favorite with its colors and its units that remind us of our toy chests. A dynamic confrontation game that appeals with its immediacy and fun.
Children's Category
The children's year highlights titles accessible from the youngest age:
- Archéo (by Florian Sirieix and Damien Desnous): A cooperative adventure game where young explorers dig an ancient site. Ideal for developing patience and observation.
- L’île des Mookies (Scorpion Masqué): Illustrated by Nathalie Zakarian, this memory and majority game is incredibly tender. A perfect playful experience for children, and parents.
- La Valse des Fantômes (Schmidt Spiele): We love its board and its cooperative mechanic. Escaping ghosts has never been so fun and accessible.
Initiated Category
For the initiated year, we find more advanced mechanics:
- First Rat (Pegasus Spiele): Don't let its funny astronaut rat look fool you. This game requires real resource management to build the best rocket.
- Take Time (Libellud): The favorite of the predictions in this category. A cooperative game where limited communication creates an electric atmosphere around the table.
- Zenith: A condensed space conquest game. It offers clever zone control and crucial tactical choices without lasting for hours.
Expert Category
The expert year is aimed at players seeking deep strategy and a long gaming experience (often more than an hour):
- Arcs (Leder Games): An asymmetrical game by the creator of Root. A true space epic where your decisions directly impact the fate of the galaxy. A tough challenge for any expert.
- Civolution (by Stefan Feld): Civilization building at its peak. A longer game duration for a total and rewarding management experience.
- Ants: A title that requires meticulous planning. Manage your colony, optimize your harvests, and survive the seasons in this new classic management game.
Who are the members of the As d'Or 2026 jury?
The jury is composed of recognized personalities from the gaming world, journalists, and librarians, such as Eva Szarzynski, Marie Giordana, Michel Van Langendonckt, Nathalie Zakarian, as well as Damien Desnous and Pierre Driay Didier Guiserix. Their mission is to test hundreds of references to extract the top of current creation.
How to vote for the As d'Or 2026 and what are the predictions?
Although the jury prize is sovereign, the public can express their preferences on social networks. Current predictions favor Flip 7 for the general public due to its immediate success in stores. In the expert category, Civolution seems to have a head start.